Jacob j



(No Model.)

J. J. UNBEHEND.

SPRING CLASP. No. 368,501. Patented Aug. 16,1887.

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UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB J. UNBEHEND, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

SPRING-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,501, dated August16, 1887. Application filed January :17, 1887. Serial No. 225,620. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB J. UNBEHEND,

of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Clasps, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in spring clasp platesof the classusually applied to arctics, overshoes, and like articles, and theobjectis to provide a simple and effective construction of a springplate and tongue, whereby an efficient and durable clasp can bemanufactured at a minimum cost; and to this end my invention consists ina spring-clasp frame made of a single thickness of metal having forwardextensions provided wit-h straight edges and divided, a laterally-pro-2o jecting pintle, an enlarged opening back of the pintle, and a slottedopening into the aperture, through which the securing devices are passedto attach the clasp-frame to the arctic. It consists, furthermore, inthe combination of the plate or frame with the tongue, and also in thedetail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinaftermore particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In specifying my invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which, like lettersindica-tingcorresponding parts in-all the figures, Figure 1 is a plan view of myimproved claspframe, illustrating the general form and constructionthereof. Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing the tongue secured to theframe, partly open for the purpose of illustrating the construction andarrangement of the tongue-frame. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the frameand tongue, showing the tongue closed. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan viewof a modification in the construction of the frame. Fig. 5 is aninverted plan view showing the frame used in connection with a solidtongue. Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification in the construction ofthe plate, wherein the forward extensions are elongated to' providedouble pintles; and Fig. 7 is an edge View, partly in section, taken online av 00, Fig. 6, showing the elongation of the forward extensionsfolded back to re-enforce the pintles.

. pintle b b.

A represents my improved clasp-frame, constructed of a single thicknessof spring sheet metal and provided with the forward extensions, a a, andthe divided laterally-projecting Immediately forward and back of thepintle b b, I provide the extensions a a with the straight edges a a,for the purpose presently explained. The outer edges of the extensionsor a are preferably curved, as shown in the drawings, for the purpose ofgiving the frame a finished and symmetrical appearance. The oppositeextremity or end is also preferably curved for the same purpose.

Immediately back of the pintle b b, I provide an enlarged opening, 0,and a slot, (2, connecting the opening 0 with the aperture 6, and theaperture (2 serves as an opening through which the securing devices passfor attaching the frame A to the arctic or other article upon which theclasp is used.

The opening or slot at is substantially in line with the opening betweenthe divided pintle b b, as will appear upon reference to Fig. 6 of thedrawings, line 00w being drawn through the center of the plate and theslot d and the opening between the pintle b b.

The object of providing the slot 01 and the divided pintle is to allowthe lateral expansion of the extensions a a of the frame, and since theframe is made of spring metal such expansion is utilized to afford thenecessary spring to lock the tongue in its open and closed position, aswill be presently explained.

The tongue B is provided with a sleeve, 0, Fig. 2, which embraces thepintle b b, and the tongue B turns on the pintle b b as a pivot in itsmovement when the clasp is opened and closed.

Upon the outer edges of the tongue B, I provide the cam points M, Figs.4 and 5, said cams being reversely inclined and converging to the pointat, Figs. 4 and 5, and upon the sleeve 0, I provide the notches ff, theoffice of the reversely-inclined cams being to expand laterally theextensions a a of the frame A, and they accomplish this function by theimpingement of the projecting points z t" of the cam-edges against thestraight edges a a" of the extensions a a of the frame,

f serve to lock the tongue B in its open and closed position by theirengagement with the and the notchesf I00 ple and effective spring-clasp.

straight edges a a. It will be observed that the extensions a a areprovided with the straight edges a a upon each side of the pin tle b b,and that the notches ff in the sleeve 0 of the tongue B are so locatedthat when the tongue is either in its opened or closed position thenotches engage the aforesaid straight edges (1 a? of the extensions andsecurely lock the tongue in either position, as described.

In order to secure an easy-working clasp, I preferably slot the tongue13 at g, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, since such construction permits the tongueto contract laterally near its pivot, and such lateral contractionrelieves in a measure the pressure of the cam-edges of the tongueagainst the extensions a a of the frame and makes the opening andclosing of the tongue somewhat easier to accomplish than where a solidtongue is employed; but a solid tongue, as illustrated in Fig. 5, whenprovided with the inclined cam-edges M, converging to the point it,makes an equally effective springclasp. Hence I do not restrict myselfto the employment of the slotted tongue illustrated in the other views;neither do I restrict myself to the construction of the frame-plate A,illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, since the frame-plate may beconstructed as illustrated in Fig. 4 and used in connection with thesolid tongue B, and such device affords a very sim- The frame A may beconstructed also as illustrated in Fig.

6, in which case the extensions or a are elongated and provided with twosetsv of divided pintles, b b, the part a being folded over on theextension a, so as to bring the pintles I) over and coincident with thepintles 12, thereby providing a re-enforced pintle, which will bereadily understood upon reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

My improved spring-clasp is generally used in connection with the usualslotted plate attached to arctics and the like overshoes, and itsconnection therewith is so well known that it is unnecessary to describethe same herein.

The operation of my improved spring-clasp is as follows, viz: When thetongue B is sleeved onto the pintle b b the inclined cam-edges bearagainst the straight edges or a as the tongue is opened or closed, andsuch impingement of the edges of the tongue expands the extensions a alaterally, thus imparting the necessary spring action to the tongue,while the notches f f serve to'lock the tongue in its open or closedposition until sufficient pressure is applied to the free end thereof toforce the notchesffout of engagement with the straight edgesof theextensions, when the same may be readily closed.

The reversely-inclined cam-edges, converging to the point it, serve toexpand the extensions of the plate in both movements of the frame frombeing drawn up into the slotted plate. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein described tongue-frame for spring-clasps made from'asing-1e thiekness'of meta-l, having forward extensions provided withstraight edges (1 a forward and rearward of the pintles, dividedlaterally-projecting pintles, an enlarged opening back of the pintle,and a slot-opening in the aperture, through which the securing devicesare passed to attach the clasp-frame to the arctic or article upon whichit is used, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the single thick frame A, having extensions (1aand straight edges a a forward and rearward of the pintles, th'elaterally-divided pintles b b, enlarged opening 0, with a tongue, B,having cam-edges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

3. The combination of the frame A, having extensions a a, provided withstraight edges a ct forward and rearward of the pintles, with a tongue,13, having eanredges, and the notchesff, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination of the frame A, having extensions or a, provided withstraight edges a a", with a tongue, B, having reversely-inclined cams ti, converging to a point, 12,, and the lock-notches f f, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the frame A, having forward extensions providedwith straight edges, and a tongue, B, having reverse1y-inclined camsriding between the straight edges on the extensions of the frame-plate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed myname, in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in theState of New York, this 25th day of January, 1887.

JACOB J. UNBEHEND.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, E. O. CANNON.

